Assembled structure



Sept. 16, 1941.

C. RINGLE ASSEMBLED STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 16, 1940 INVENTOR (3a Ze 711 ATTORNEYS Sept. 16, 1941. c RlNGLE 2,256,104

' ASSEMBLED STRUCTURE I INVENTOR (ale jfi'igl BY v M ATTORNEYS ASSEMBLED STRUCTURE Filed May 16, 1940 d Sheets-Sheet 5 \NVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ASSEMBLED STRUCTURE Caleb Ringle, Jersey City, N. J.

Application May 16, 1940, Serial No. 335,622

This invention relates to building structures,

8 Claims.

such as walls, skylights, roofs and the like, and more particularly to such structures made from glass sheets or from other rigid roofing sheets arranged side by side in rows with spaces between adjacent sheets and having the next higher row of sheets overlapping the lower row of sheets.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a roof construction in which the roofing sheets or glass of successive rows are temporarily supported against downhill sliding during erection by structural elements other than the sheets of the lower row of sheets and are permanently supported by a purlin by which the overlapping ends of the sheets are supported.

The invention, While capable of other uses in other environments, is particularly adapted to be advantageously employed in the construction and assembly of corrugated glass roofs, and I have therefore illustrated it so applied.

Referring to the drawings which show what I now consider to be preferred embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 shows a sectional View taken through overlapping rows of successive rows of sheets and illustrates an application of the principle of my invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 show, respectively, construction utilized in supporting the cave and top ends of the roof structure.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sectional elevations taken on lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the relationship of one of the flanged clips to the overlapping sheets.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the flanged clips.

Fig. 8 is a section through a modified form of roof structure illustrating the application of the I flanged clip to such structure.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of still another modified form of roof structure illustrating an application of another form of flanged clip.

Fig. 10 is a top view of the flanged clip illustrated in the roof structure of Fig. 9.

In order to demonstrate the principle of my invention, I have illustrated it in connection with several modifications of roof structures, but in the interest of convenience, I shall confine my detailed description of a complete roof structure to the roof structure described in my copending application Serial No. 260,732, filed March 9, 1939, of which the present application is a continuation in part.

In roofs employing the present invention, the glass sheets or panels ID are laid in rows with the sheets of each row slightly spaced from each other. The sheets extendfrom purlin to purlin and successive rows of sheets overlap each other at the purlins. Fig. 1 illustrates overlapping sheets of lower and higher rows of sheets at one or more of intermediate purlins between the cave purlin illustrated in Fig. 2 and the highest purlin or supporting beam as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The spaces between adjacent sheets are covered or enclosed by pairs of inner strips II and battens or cap strips H which are secured or clamped together by bolts I3. The strips II and M are relatively rigid and preferably curved to conform to the glass sheets but may be fitted to the glass sheets in any manner that will serve to bridge and seal the spaces between adjacent sheets.

Each inner strip H is constructed of suitable metal and it preferably has a length approximating that of the glass sheet H) which it underlies and may be shorter, if so desired. In the roof construction illustrated the length of the inner strip is such as to provide holes I2 at both ends for engagement with bolts 20 which are carried by the purlins between which the sheets, inner strips and battens extend.

The battens or cap strips I 4 are all substantially alike. Each batten H is constructed of suitable metal and is approximately the length of the glass sheets which it overlies and may be longer, if so desired.

The utility of the invention can best be understood through an explanation of one manner of applying a roof employing the invention. Assuming that the supporting structure for the roof is completed with the purlins in place, the roofer then attaches the bolts 20 to the purlins at intervals for accommodating the widths of the various glass sheets. The bolts 20 may be attached to the purlins by drilling holes in the flanges or by some other auxiliary means designed for securely anchoring the bolts to the purlins.

As shown in Fig. 1, such anchoring means may comprise a pair of clips 2|, 22, which have hooked portions 23, 24, respectively, in engagement with the flanges of the channel member constituting the purlin 25. These clips have holes at 26 to receive the bolt 20. Nuts 21, 28, together with the hooked clips, serve securely to hold the bolt u to the purlin- Either before or after the clips 2| are attached to the purlin, and preferably before, asphaltic felt cushion strips 29 are laid along the upper surfaces of the purlins. These serves! cushions upon which the higher ends of the glass sheets rest.

The eave purlin of the roof (Fig. 2) includes, in addition to the channel member 3|, a rigid support 32 setting upon the channel member. An asphaltic sealing strip 33 runs lengthwise of the purlin. This sealing strip may be anchored to the purlin by any suitable means such as hooks 34 which engage a structural piece 35.

The lower row of sheets is mounted in place first. Glass supports 36 are slipped over the bolts 20 and placed upon the sealing strip 33. These glass supports are angular members which can be attached to the inner strips, if so desired. Each support 36 has a hole drilled for receiving the bolt 20 and a flanged end 31 which serves as an abutment for the lower ends of sheets Ill.

The inner strips II are mounted between the purlins 3| and 25 by simply slipping one end of each strip II over a corresponding one of the row of bolts 26 at the cave of the roof (Fig. 2) and by slipping the other end of such strip over a corresponding one of the row of bolts 20 anchored to purlin 25 of the next higher row (Fig. 1). The glass sheets III to constitute the lowermost row are now laid in place so that they rest upon the sealing and cushioning strips 33 and 29 with the lower edges of the sheets engaging the flanges 31 of the supports 36. If the bolts I3 are initially attached to the inner strips, they will extend upwardly in the space between adjacent sheets of glass in line with bolts 20.

Asphaltic felt strips 36 are applied over the glass joints (see also Fig. and the battens or cover strips l4 are placed over the felt strips with the bolts 20 projecting through openings in the strips and battens. Washers and nuts may then be applied to all of the bolts 20 along the cave purlin 3|. The lower end of each of the lowermost battens has a turned down lip which covers from view the flange of the supporting member 36. In the interest of security, the battens and the inner strips may be bolted together by means of bolts 39 at their lower ends. Other bolts similar to bolts 39 (Fig. 2) or to bolts I3 (Fig, 1) are used to clamp the battens and inner strips together at intervals between bolts 20. The mounting of the lower row of panels is now concluded.

Preliminary to mounting the second row of glass panels, asphaltic sealing strips 40 are placed upon the upper surfaces of the batten strips and panels at their upper ends (Fig. 1). These strips run lengthwise of the roof. Each strip is fastened to the upper ends of the first or lower row of sheets by means of hooks H.

The means for supporting the second row of sheets consist of a flanged clip 42, each of which has a flange 43 extending upwardly intermediate its ends. These clips are preferably made integral and of heavy gauge metal. Each clip is sufllciently wide to span the space between the adjacent sheets of glass (Figs. 4 and 6). The flange extends upwardly at a sufiicient height to afford ample bearing surfaces at the lower ends of the sheets. Each clip is provided with a hole 44 for engagement by a bolt I3 and a hole 45 in the portion thereof which extends between the overlapping sheets for engagement by bolt 20. It is placed over the bolts I3 and 20, which constitute means for permanently anchoring the clip to the roof structure.

Bolts 20, as has been previously explained, have direct connection to the underlying purlins to which they are anchored, so that they form a fixed anchor for the clips and for all that is supported by the clips. The importance of the association of the flanged clip with the upper ones of the bolts I3 will appear more forcibly in connection with the modifications of the invenvention illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, in which modifications the associations are indispensable for providing temporary support for the immediately higher row of glass sheets during erection, although they also serve to contribute permanent support for the clip in the same manner as such support is provided by the embodiment shown in Fig, 1.

As explained hereinbefore, bolts I3 may be fastened to the inner strips, as by soldering, or in any suitable manner that will prevent rotation and so they will project upwardly when the inner strips are placed. This construction is illustrated in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3 the angle clip 5| and bolt 52 may also be fastened together. If this manner of assembing the roof is not used, the bolts I3 may be passed downwardly from the top sides of the battens and the nuts put on from the underside of the inner strips. The former method obviates the use of scaffolding which is necessary for applying nuts from the underside as required in the method employed to complete the constructions illustrated in Figs. 8 and 11.

Reverting again to Fig. 1, after the clips 42 have been placed in position over bolts 20, nuts 46 are applied to hold the clips in rigid relation to the bolts. The inner strips of the next higher row of panels are then mounted in position over bolts 20 with their lower ends resting upon the asphalt sealing strip 40 and their upper ends temporarily resting upon an asphaltic felt cushioning strip 29 on the next higher purlin from which they are subsequently raised when the clamping bolts I3 are applied,

The glass sheets are placed between pairs of bolts 20 with their lower edges resting against the flanges of the flanged clips 42. The relationship of the flanged clip to the next higher sheets may be readily seen in Figs. 1 and 6. It will be seen from Fig. 6 that the flanged clip underlies the space between adjacent sheets I0 and that the flange 43 serves as an abutment for the two lower edges of adjacent sheets at their corners. The weight of each row of glass sheets is supported by the flanged clips in this manner and is directl transmitted through the clip to the purlin to which the clip is anchored.

With the glass sheets in place, strips of asphaltic felt 38 are applied over the spaces between adjacent sheets of glass, as was done for the first row of sheets. Thereafter, battens I4 are applied and the battens and inner strips are clamped together by bolts I3 spaced at intervals between bolts 20. This action raises the inner strips into close contact with the under surfaces of the adjacent sheets. Suitable washers 41 are placed over the bolts 20 and nuts 49 are then applied. Nuts 48 serve to hold down the lower ends of the battens and the underlying sheets of glass.

The manner of mounting the next higher row of inner strips, glass sheets and battens may follow the practice just described in mounting the similar elements upon the first row of purlins above the eave purlins, and the procedure is repeated on up the roof, depending upon the size of roof andn'ninber of intermediate purlins 25 in the roof.

The upper ends of the panels of the highest row of panels rests upon an asphaltie felt cushioning strip 49 which is mounted upon a structural member 50 of the roof. An angle member which is secured to member 50, assures that the panels remain in place. Bolts 52 engage the angle members 5| and clamp together the inner strips, battens and flashing 53.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 8 is a part of a roof similar to that previously described except for certain differences in the manner in which the load upon the clip 42 is transmitted to the purlin I25. In a roof employing this construction, the lower row of panels may be applied as previously described with reference to Fig. 2. After the first row of inner strips, glass sheets and battens have been placed, clip 42 is applied in the position illustrated in Fig. 8 and it is secured in place by means of a bolt I I3. This bolt may extend either upwardly or downwardly, but in any event, the clip is securely fastened to batten I4 and to inner strip II by the bolt before the placing of the next higher row of panels is begun.

With the asphalt sealing strips 40 and felt cushioning strips 29 in position, the inner strips, the glass sheets, and the battens are mounted in position with the lower edges of adjacent sheets abutting the flanges 43. The relationship of the battens to the inner strips is predetermined by bolts H4. These bolts H4 are passed through previously drilled holes in the battens and in the inner strips and through holes in the supporting clips I I5. The supporting clips have a flange I I6 for engaging the underside and toe of the flange III of purlin I25.

These supporting clips H5 are also drilled for receiving a bolt H8 by which the load carried by the flanged clip 42 is transmitted to the purlin I25.

It is apparent that after the glass sheets have been placed and before bolts II 4 and H8 are applied, the only support for the glass sheets is from the flanged clips 42 which they abut. Since the flanged clips are bolted to the inner strips and battens of the lower sheets of glass by means of bolts II 3 (Fig. 8), the entire load of the next higher row of glass sheets is temporarily carried by the inner strips and battens of the lower row of glass sheets.

Prior to applying bolts H8, a curved plate washer H9 is placed over the lower end of each higher batten. This plate is drilled for receiving a bolt I20, as well as bolt H8. The connection to an intermediate purlin I25 is completed by placing bolts H8 and I and securing them in place. Bolt I20 passes through hole 45 in flanged clip 42 and the bolt therefore serves, together with the plate washer H9 and bolt H8, to connect the flanged clip 42 with the purlin I to cause the purlin to counteract the downhill thrust of the row of glass sheets whose lower ends are above the purlin.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 9 is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 8. The portion of the flanged clip 242 lying between the overlapping sheets is extended for a suiflcient distance to provide engagement with supporting clip 2I5. It will be seen from this construction that the force exerted upon the flanged clips 242 by the higher row of glass sheets is directly transmitted to the supporting clips 2I5 which abut purlin 225 at the toe of its flange 2I I.

An advantage of this construction is that each supporting clip 2I5 can be engaged in the slot 230 of the flanged clip (Fig. 10) and so provide for temporarily holding the supporting clip in position on the purlin before the higher row of panels is placed.

Each flanged clip 242 is bolted to a pair of the inner strips I4 and battens II of the lower row of sheets by bolts 2 I 2 and 2 I3 which pass through holes 244 and 245 of the flanged clips. With the flanged clips thereby secured in place the lower pairs of inner strips and battens can support the next higher row of sheets during erection.

When this next higher row of sheets and associated battens and inner strips are mounted in their ultimate positions they are secured down by bolts 2I8 and 2I4 which engage supporting clip 2 I 5 and accomplish that purpose. A suitable washer 2 I 9 is provided for these bolts.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiments thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus disclosed is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted, without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A roof comprising, in combination, purlins, a plurality of rows of rigid roof sheets in which each row of sheets except the highest overlaps and underlies the next higher row at a purlin and in which the sheets of each row are slightly spaced, a plurality of rigid inner strips underlying the spaces between the sheets of each row and each extending from one purlin to an adjacent purlin, means securing the upper ends of the inner strips to the purlins, each of said inner strips being of substantially the same length as the two spaced sheets which it underlies, upwardly extending bolts secured to each of said inner strips and held against rotation thereby during assembly in the spaces between the sheets which the inner strips underlie, a plurality of batten strips overlying the spaces between the sheets of each row and through which said bolts extend, and means connected to each inner strip of a lower row of inner strips and to each inner strip of the next higher row of inner strips and adjacent overlapping sheets for preventing downward endwise movement of the sheets of the higher row of the overlapping sheets before and after the battens which overlie the sheets of the said higher row are applied.

2. A roof comprising, in combination, p 'rlins, a plurality of successive rows of glass sheets in which each row of sheets overlaps and underlies the next higher row at a purlin and in which the sheets of each row are slightly spaced, a plurality of inner strips underlying the spaces between the sheets of each row and each extending from one purlin to an adjacent purlin, means securing the inner strips to the purlins, each of said inner strips being of substantially the same length as the two spaced sheets which it underlies, upwardly extending bolts fastened to each of said inner strips and thereby held against rotation during assembly in the spaces between the sheets which the inner strips underlie, a plurality of battenatrips overlying the spaces between the sheets of each row and through which said bolts extend, glass-supporting clips having flanges extending upwardly from batten strips adjacent overlapping sheets for preventing downward endwise movement of the sheets of the next higher row of the overlapping sheets, and means anchoring said clips to the purlin located beneath the overlapping sheets for preventing downward movement of the clips and endwise movement of the said higher row of sheets before and after the battens which overlie the sheets of the said higher row are applied.

3. A roof comprising, in combination, purlins, a plurality of successive rows of glass sheets in which each row of sheets overlaps and underlies the next higher row at a purlin and in which the sheets of each row are slightly spaced, a plurality of inner strips underlying the spaces between the sheets of each row, each of said inner strips being of a length no greater than the length of the two spaced sheets which it underlies, means securing the inner strips to the undersides of the sheets, said securing means including upwardly extending bolts fastened to each of said inner strips and thereby held against rotation during assembly in the spaces between the sheets which the inner strips underlie, a plurality of batten strips overlying the spaces between the sheets of each row and through which said bolts extend, glass-supporting clips having flanges extending upwardly from batten strips adjacent overlapping sheets for preventing downward endwise movement of the sheets of the next higher row of the overlapping sheets, and means anchoring said clips to the purlin located beneath the overlapping sheets for preventing downward movement of the clips and endwise,

movement of the said higher row of sheets before and after the battens which overlie the sheets of the said higher row are applied.

4. A roof comprising, in combination, purlins, a plurality of successive rows of glass sheets in which each row of sheets overlaps and underlies the next higher row at a purlin and in which the sheets of each row are slightly spaced, a plurality of inner strips underlying the spaces between the sheets of each row, each of said inner strips being of a length no greater than the length of the two spaced sheets which it underlies means securing the inner strips to the undersides of the sheets, said securing means including upwardly extending bolts fastened to each of said inner strips and thereby held against rotation during assembly in the spaces between the sheets which the inner strips underlie, a plurality of batten strips overlying the spaces between the sheets of each row and through which said bolts extend, and glass-supporting means adjacent overlapping sheets for preventing downward endwise movement of the sheets of the next higher row of the overlapping sheets before and after the battens which overlie the sheets of the said higher row are applied and for holding the said higher row of overlapping sheets from lifting away from its adjacent row of underlying sheets, said means being secured to the purlin located beneath the overlapping sheets.

5. A roof comprising, in combination, purlins, a plurality of successive rows of glass sheets in which each row of sheets overlaps and underlies the next higher row at a purlin and in which the sheets of each row are slightly spaced, a plurality of inner strips underlying the spaces between the sheets of each row and each extending from one purlin to an adjacent purlin, means securing the inner strips to the purlins, a plurality of batten strips overlying the spaces between the sheets of each row of sheets, bolts extending through the spaces between the sheets and securing together each pair of batten strips and inner strips, glasssupporting clips having portions lying between overlapping sheets and spanning the spaces between the sheets of each row, said clips having flanges for preventing downward endwise movement of the sheets of the next higher row of the overlapping sheets before and after the battens which overlie the sheets of the said higher row are applied, and bolts engaging said clips, the inner strips of the lower row of inner strips and the batten strips of the overlapping higher row of batten strips and extending through the spaces between the sheets.

6. A roof comprising, in combination, purlins, a plurality of successive rows of glass sheets in which each row of sheets overlaps and underlies the next higher row at a purlin and in which the sheets of each row are slightly spaced, a plurality of inner strips underlying the spaces between the sheets of each row and each extending from one purlin to an adjacent purlin, each of said inner strips being of a length no greater than the length of the two spaced sheets which it underlies, a plurality of batten strips overlying the spaces between the sheets of each row of sheets, bolts extending through the spaces between the sheets and securing together each pair of batten strips and inner strips, glass-supporting clips adjacent overlapping sheets and having upwardly extending flanges for preventing downward endwise movement of the sheets of the next higher row of the overlapping sheets before and after the battens which overlie the sheets of the said higher row are applied, said clips also having portions extending between the said overlapping sheets and spanning the spaces between the sheets of each row, and bolts engaging said clips and the inner strips of the lower row of inner strips for preventing displacement of the said higher row of overlapping sheets.

7. A roof comprising, in combination, purlins, a plurality of rows of glass sheets in which each successive row of sheets overlaps and underlies the next higher row at a purlin and in which the sheets of each row are slightly spaced, a plurality of inner strips underlying the spaces between the sheets of each row and each extending from one purlin to an adjacent purlin, means securing the inner strips to the purlins, said means including a supporting clip secured to the lower end of each inner strip at its underside, a plurality of battens overlying the spaces between the sheets of each row, means securing together pairs of battens and inner strips, flanged clips each having a flange abutting the lower edges of adjacent sheets of the said next higher row of sheets at their corners and having a portion extending between the overlapping sheets, a plate overlying the lower end of each batten, bolts passing through said plates and said first mentioned supporting clips, and other bolts passing through said flanged clips and pairs of battens and inner strips of the lower row of sheets.

8. A roof comprising, in combination, purlins, a plurality of rows of glass sheets in which each successive row of sheets overlaps and underlies the next higher row at a purlin and in which of adjacent sheets or the said next higher row of sheets at their corners and having a portion extending between the overlapping sheets, said portion of the flanged clip having a slot for engaging said supporting clip, bolts connecting together each pair or battens and inner strips of the higher row of sheets and said supporting clip, and bolts connecting together each pair of bat tens and inner strips of the lower row of sheets CALEB RINGLE.

10 and said flanged clips. 

